June 1996 – For the first time the World Cup arrives in Oceania, specifically in Australia, given that all previous predictions were in North America and Europe.
Nico Vouilloz proves to the world that he is a phenomenon. He won his 2nd Elite title in his 2nd year in the category, after winning 3 consecutive Junior titles. Behind him, for a few cents, Shaun Palmer, at his first international appearance where he risked winning the world championship by surprise. Palmer was a very influential figure in the 90s (see Story) and was one of the first to bring loose clothing into the downhill, in fact many said that he lost the race precisely for this reason, given that the tight-fitting onesies of his opponents were certainly more aerodynamic in the fast and pedaled sections. Third place for the Dutch Bas De Bever.
Among women the winner is Anne Caroline Chausson, a compatriot of Wantilloz who seems to have followed the same path as him: world champion among the Juniors for 3 years in a row and then winning the Elite title in the 1st year in the category. Definitely 2 off-road phenomena. Behind her the Americans Leigh Donovan e Missy Jupiter. Wednesday Giovanna Bonazzi.
Among the Juniors the Swiss wins Andy Bueler (who puts Cedric Gracia behind) while among the women the Frenchwoman Nolvenn Le Caer.
| EL M | ||
 |  Nicolas VOUILLOZ | 5:31.94 |
| 2 |  Shaun PALMER | 0.15s |
| 3 |  Bas DE DRINK | 0.33s |
| 4 | Eric CARTER | 1.71s |
| 5 | Mike KING | 2.43s |
| 6 |  Scott SHARPLES | 2.44s |
| 7 |  Marcus KLAUSMANN | 3.89s |
| 8 | Jürgen BENEKE | 3.97s |
| 9 | Sean MCCARROLL | 4.14s |
| 10 |  Tomas MISSER VILASECA | 4.18s |
| 11 |  Michel JOSEPH | 4.57s |
| 12 | Michael RONNING | 4.72s |
| 13 | Brian LOPES | 4.80s |
| 14 | Dave CULLINAN | 4.86s |
| 15 |  Steve PEAT | 4.95s |
| 16 |  Corrado HERIN | 5.06s |
| 17 | Gerwin PETERS | 5.15s |
| 18 | Pau MISSER | 7.14s |
| 19 | Kirt VOREIS | 7.39s |
| 20 | Stephane JANY | 9.76s |
| 21 | John TOMAC | 10.00s |
| 22 |  Johan ENGSTRÖM | 10.10s |
| 23 | Gianluca BONANOMI | 10.31s |
| 24 | Guillaume KOCH | 10.33s |
| 25 | Florent POUSSIN | 10.64s |
| 26 | Stefano MIGLIORINI | 10.71s |
| 27 | Joe LAWWILL | 12.14s |
| 28 | Pascal YEN PON | 12.88s |
| 29 | Karim AMOUR | 13.68s |
| 30 | Toby HENDERSON | 14.41s |
| EL W | ||
| Anne-Caroline CHAUSSON | 5:27.58 |
| 2 | Leigh DONOVAN | 0.18s |
| 3 | Missy JUPITER | 3.79s |
| 4 | Giovanna BONAZZI | 11.79s |
| 5 | Kim SONIER | 12.85s |
| 6 | Mercedes GONZALEZ | 15.15s |
| 7 | Mikki DOUGLASS | 19.65s |
| 8 | Marla STREB | 21.87s |
| 9 | Elke BRUTSAERT | 21.98s |
| 10 | Rita BUERGI | 23.59s |
| 11 |  Katja REPO | 27.28s |
| 12 | Carole GRANGE | 29.75s |
| 13 | Malin LINDGREN | 34.83s |
| 14 | Katrina MILLER | 36.46s |
| 15 | Tara LLANES | 38.13s |
| 16 |  Elladee BROWN | 38.56s |
| 17 | Lisa SHER | 41.46s |
| 18 | Karen VAN MEERBECK | 45.44s |
| 19 |  Cariza MUNOZ | 53.26s |
| 20 | Rachael BRUCE | 58.57s |
| JUN M | ||
| Andy BUELER | 5:00.39 |
| 2 | Cédric GRACIA | 2.18s |
| 3 | Maxime GARDELLA | 3.46s |
| 4 | Tobias WESTMAN | 3.57s |
| 5 | Jan LUNDMAN | 7.73s |
| 6 | Rich HOUSEMAN | 9.14s |
| 7 | Eric ANSELMO | 9.66s |
| 8 | Jess SWIGGERS | 15.16s |
| 9 | Colin BAILEY | 15.36s |
| 10 | Thomas RYSER | 16.70s |
| JUN W | ||
| Nolvenn LE CAER | 5:42.96 |
| 2 | Sabrina JONNIER | 16.63s |
| 3 | Saree JÖRGENSEN | 25.73s |
| 4 | Miriam BLAS OTONDO | 42.33s |
| 5 | Sarah STIEGER | 43.49s |
| 6 | Johanna RÜBEL-TÖDT | 46.54s |
| 7 |  Helena KURANDOVA | 1:02.57 |
| 8 | Melissa MILLER | 1:03.16 |
| 9 |  Hiroko INOMATA | 1:08.80 |
| 10 |  Patricia LOUREIRO | 1:08.99 |
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